Menander was a first-century CE
Samaritan gnostic,
magician and a leader of the
Simonians following the death of his master and instructor,
Simon Magus, who was in
Rome during the reign of
Emperor Claudius. He is mentioned in the works of
Irenaeus,
Tertullian and others.
Justin Martyr is the oldest source of knowledge about Menander after he met some of the devoted Menandrians in their old age. Justin suggested that Menander was born in Cappareteia and established a school in
Antioch where he announced himself the
messiah and vowed to defeat the
angels that were keeping the world in captivity, possibly through
exorcism.