Final answer:
The taenia is the raised band that separates the frieze from the architrave on a Doric entablature. It serves as a key element of the Doric architectural style, where the frieze often features triglyphs and metopes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The raised band or fillet that separates the frieze from the architrave on a Doric entablature is called the taenia. In classical architecture, particularly of the Doric order, the entablature represents the superstructure that lays horizontally and is supported on the columns. It consists of three parts: the architrave, which is the lowest section; the frieze, which is the central section often decorated with triglyphs and metopes; and the cornice, which is the uppermost projecting section.
The taenia is an important feature of the Doric entablature, serving both decorative and structural purposes. In Doric temples, the frieze is characterized by its sequence of triglyphs and metopes. The triglyphs were crafted with three vertical grooves and symbolized the end of wooden beams, while the metopes were square panels that could be left plain or decorated with painted or sculpted scenes.