The Hansophoroi is an Atlantean invention, similar to later Crossbows, and Gastraphetes, and the ancestor of the Cheiroballistae.

Short Bows were commonly used as a naval weapon during the Warring Kingdom period of Atlantean period, due to the weapon not being effective enough, compared to the Longbows the Arci used, were replaced with the more common practice of using Composite Bows, before the Hansophoroi was introduced. Hansophoroi could be however, fired faster than most bows, due to the use of a Winch, but was only suited for using arrows. With the invention of Cheiroballistae, and Crossbows, the Hansophoroi all but disappeared from combat, but is still to an extent used by Atlantean Scouts, and Atlantis' feared Biremes.