Plato

The Greeks always held to the existence of the Universal Life Principle, calling it by various names.  The very term, "The Cosmos," was used by the Stoics and others to represent the idea of the anima mundi or "world-soul." Heraclitus held to the "world-spirit" which he symbolized as flame. Pythagoras, in his exoteric or popular teachings taught the doctrine of the Life Principle, symbolizing it as light or flame. Other schools recognized the existence of this One Life Principle calling it "Being," a term which has persisted in modern philosophy.

By some schools, notable the Platonian, the Universal Life Principle was called "The Demiurge," the term literally meaning the "universal worker."  The Demiurge was held to be an exalted and mysterious agent, by and through whom The Absolute was supposed to have created the Universe--the life of the Demiurge flowed out into manifold forms, and became the Many.  This ideas was adhered to by the Gnostics of the early Christian church.  (Source 1).