== 機能 ==
ニンギジッタの肩書は、植物や農業と結びついている<ref>Wiggermann, 1998, p369</ref>。また、家畜の飼料とされる草の話もよく出てくる<ref>Wiggermann, 1998, pp369-370</ref>。植物の死は、彼が毎年冥界へ旅立つことと関連していた<ref>Wiggermann, 1998, p370</ref>。ウィルフレッド・G・ランバートなど一部のアッシリア学者によれば、彼の名前の「木」はブドウのことかもしれないとのことである。ニンギジッタとアルコール飲料(特にワイン)との関連はよく立証されており、例えばあるテキストでは、ビールの女神ニンカシと並んで彼を挙げており、彼の肩書きの一つは「宿屋の主」であった<ref>Wiggermann, 1998, p370</ref>。父であるニンアズと同様、ニンギジッタは蛇とも関連し、この蛇には神話のムシュス、ウシュムガル、バシュム、そして一説にはニラも含まれる<ref>Wiggermann, 1998, p370</ref>。
Ningishzida's titles connect him to plants and agriculture. He was frequently mentioned in connection with grass, which he was believed to provide for domestic animals.The death of vegetation was associated with his annual travel to the underworld.The "tree" in his name might be [[Vitis|vine]] according to some Assyriologists, including [[Wilfred G. Lambert]], and an association between him and alcoholic beverages (specifically [[wine]]) is well attested, for example one text mentions him alongside the beer goddess [[Ninkasi]], while one of his titles was "lord of the innkeepers."
Like his father Ninazu, he was also associated with snakes, including the mythical [[mushussu]], [[ushumgal]] and [[bashmu]] and in one case [[Nirah]].{{sfn|Wiggermann|1998|p=370}} He was also an underworld god, and in this role was known as the "chair bearer (or chamberlain) of the underworld."{{sfn|Wiggermann|1998|p=371}} Frans Wiggermann on the basis of these similarities considers him and his father to be members of the group of "[[Tigris|Transtigridian]] snake gods," who according to him shared a connection with the underworld, justice, vegetation and snakes.{{sfn|Wiggermann|1997|pp=47-48}} A further similarity between Ningishzida and his father was his occasional role as a warrior god, associated with victory (and as a result with the goddess [[Irnina]], the personification of it).{{sfn|Wiggermann|1998|p=371}} However, not all of their functions overlapped, as unlike Ninazu, Ningishzida never appears in the role of a divine healer.{{sfn|Wiggermann|1998|p=369}}
According to Frans Wiggermann, Ningishzida's diverse functions can be considered different aspects of his perception as a "reliable god," well attested in Mesopotamian texts.{{sfn|Wiggermann|1998|p=371}}