Final answer:
Perseus, not Percy, is known in Greek mythology for slaying Medusa, a gorgon who had the power to turn people to stone with her gaze, aided by the gods Athena and Hermes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main answer to the student's question is that Percy, referring to Perseus in Greek mythology, named the animal that when slayed could potentially cause the fall of Olympus as Medusa. Medusa was a gorgon, a mythological figure with snakes for hair, whose gaze could turn mortals to stone. The narrative of Perseus slaying Medusa is a key mythological tale. Perseus was aided by the gods in this endeavor: Athena gifted him a reflective shield and armor, while Hermes provided winged sandals for flight. This task of slaying Medusa was granted to Perseus in a time of overarching pride when Medusa inappropriately compared her beauty to that of Athena, thus being transformed into a gorgon as a form of divine punishment.In conclusion, Perseus's slaying of Medusa is an archetypal story in Greek mythology that was wrapped in divine intervention and played a role in the relationship between mortals and gods. Perseus is celebrated as a hero in Greek lore, overcoming huge odds and receiving divine support to carry out this task.