Final answer:
The term for an architectural element in a Doric temple that bears decoration and consists of triglyphs and metopes is a frieze.
Step-by-step explanation:
The vocabulary term for an architectural element in a Doric temple that is above the architrave and often bears painted or sculpted decoration is frieze. In the context of Doric architecture, the frieze is composed of triglyphs and metopes. Triglyphs are vertical plaques with three divisions, and metopes are square spaces which were used for either painted or sculpted decoration. This combination of triglyphs and metopes is a distinctive feature of the Doric entablature and helps to identify the Doric order, known for its plain capital and sturdy, fluted columns that rest directly on the stylobate without a base.