"The chief goddess of that area and era were Al-'Uzza, Allat, and Manat, along with a few lesser ones (Glueck 1965:417, Kammerer 1929:86-421; Strugnell 1959:159; Holy Quran - Suras XXII, XXIX, LIII).
Allat, Al-'Uzza, and Manat
It has been suggested by other researches that Al-'Uzza was the goddess involved at Petra. Ryckmans saw Al-'Uzza as universally worshipped by Arabs. Yet, as Sourdel points out, she is rarely mentioned and was ultimately confused, in regard to aspects, with Allat. Starcky, in discussing the Nabataean pantheon notes the appearance of "sometimes" Allat, "sometimes" Al-'Uzza, which may well indicated that confusion in effect. Although mentioned in the Bosra inscription as a titular deity of the city, and although her cult continued at Mecca until the coming of Islam, Al-'Uzza does not appear to emerge very strongly within the Nabataean pantheon a more general basis, nor to have attracted much in the way of syncretistic attributes or aspects."
- "The Goddess of the 'Temple of the Winged Lions'At Petra (Jordan)" By Ph. Hammond
"Al-'Uzza (the most mighty) had her cult in Nakhlah east of Makkah. According to al-Kalbi, hers was the most venerated idol among the Quraysh, and Muhammad as young man offered her a sacrifice. Her sanctuary consisted of three trees. Human scarifies characterized her cult. She was the Lady 'Uzzay-an to whom a South Arabian offered a golden image on behalf of his sick daughter, Amat-'Uzzay-an (the maid of al-'Uzza). 'Abd-al-'Uzza was a favourite proper name at the rise of Islam."
- "History of the Arabs" By Philip K Hiti
