You may have heard of the Seven Deadly Sins, but would you know a sinner if you saw one? The History Channel defines and presents the fascinating background behind each indiscretion.

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ANGER
The sin of anger is the sin that kills. The prophet Moses was prone to fits of rage. The mythic warriors of Sparta meditated in order to banish the sin of anger before a battle. Italian writer Dante placed those who committed the sin of anger in the "Fourth Circle of Hell," tearing each other limb from limb for eternity. Those who study demonology claim the sin of anger is really the possession of the body by the demon Ammon. Today, neuroscientists believe they've found the emotion of anger in the amygdala regions of the brain. So, is the sin of anger demonic or chemical?

ENVY
The sin of envy is toxic and has lead to the eradication of alliances since Biblical times. The potent destructiveness of envy is still relevant today. Like the rest of the seven deadly sins, it has had an enormous impact on the moral compass of the modern world. Christianity, Islam and Judaism all understand the sins differently, and some argue they have even greater significance than the Ten Commandments. If it's true, as many believe, that the Apocalypse is coming, then the seven deadly sins are the ultimate emergency preparedness checklist.

GLUTTONY
The sin of gluttony isn't mentioned in the Bible, but as early as the 4th century those of Christian faith believed that eating too much could send you to hell. During the Dark Ages theologians believed there were seven ways to commit the sin of gluttony,from "eating too much" to "eating too daintily." Italian writer Dante said those who committed the sin of gluttony would be punished in hell by being force-fed toads and vermin. This sin is thought to be the cause of obesity and alcoholism - and crusaders fought against the sin with everything from religious fasts to Prohibition.

GREED
The sin of greed is condemned in the Bible by the Tenth Commandment: "Thou Shalt Not Covet." While vilified from the time of Moses to the modern bankers' bailouts, the sin of greed has created vast empires and doomed them as well. Wise men from the philosopher Aristotle to Jesus have railed against this vice, but the 18th-century economist Adam Smith theorized that capitalism itself was based on the sin of greed. Today, many question the sin ... has greed become good?

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LUST
Christianity says lust is a sin, but the Greek and Roman empires celebrated it. The history of the sin of lust reveals surprising twists — including Gnostic Christian orgies, Puritan anti-fornication laws, and exorcists who battled the demon of lust called Asmodeus. Today scientists believe the sin of lust maybe more genetics than choice... but can they prove it?

PRIDE
The Italian writer Dante called the sin of pride the "Chief of All Sins" — the sin of Satan himself. The sin of pride was condemned by the Bible and the philosopher Socrates, while Romans and Vikings made it their greatest virtue. The sin of pride is thought to have led to the fall of Satan, but strangely enough, the most famous story about Satan is not in the Bible. So what is the origin of the sin of pride?

SLOTH
The sin of sloth is, simply put, the sin of laziness. And according to the medieval theologians, it can doom a person to hell. There are some scientists who suggest that the sin of sloth may actually be a medieval diagnosis of clinical depression. Is it a sin or a disease? The historical cures for the sin of sloth range from the herbs recommended by ancient Greek doctors, to the prayer and fasting prescribed by medieval monks, to the grafted goat glands that early 20th-century doctors used to battle "lack of pep."


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