Alexander of Lycopolis was the writer of a short treatise, in twenty-six chapters, against the Manicheans (J. P. Migne, Patrologia Graeca, XVIII, 409-448). He says in the second chapter of this work that he derived his knowledge of Manes' teaching apo ton gnorimon (from the man's friend).The work is a specimen of Greek analytical procedure in the service of Christian theology, "a calm but vigorous protest of the trained scientific intellect against the vague dogmatism of the Oriental theosophies". Photius says (Contra Manichaeos, i, 11) that he was Bishop of Lycopolis (in the Egyptian Thebaid), but Otto Bardenhewer opines (Patrologie, 234) that he was a pagan and a Platonist.