Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz

Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz (1651–1695) was a nun, poet, and scholar of New Spain, so admired that she was called the ‘Tenth Muse.’ The famous lines open her poem ‘Hombres necios que acusáis,’ a witty defense of women against the double standards of men.

She is one of the most celebrated figures of Mexican literature, and her portrait has appeared on Mexican banknotes.