Only Mercator's projection!
What do you mean by great circles - meridians and parallels on the spherical projection, or circles in Mercator?
Troy, Troyes, Paris are arbitrary as long as geometry and mythology is arbitrary. These cities are related in verified and accepted projection -used for navigation at least few centuries.
When you say modern, what period you take for that - 500, 1000, or more years, since when these names exist in memory or history? And what were their names before Aikai, Illion and Aug.Tricassium?
Mechanism of influence - unfortunately, link that I offered for reading is deleted, but I think they https://www.subaru.com/ could also have certain idea about it.
Thank you for your comments and questions :).
Not wasted - invested. Yes, it makes him and his family really happy. Even some neighbours. And postman. You can also share this happiness