IE reds

From: Ivanovas/Milatos
Message: 281
Date: 1999-11-17

Hello,
does anybody on this list have some reliable information about the (P)IE roots for the color RED or the material often used in ancient times for red coloring, ochre i.e. red iron oxide? In ancient Greek this material, also called minium nowadays (often confounded with cinnabar, HgS, unfortunately also called red lead - which is on the basis of mercury and also red-and very poisonous) was called 'miltos' - I suppose that word had already lost the 'red' word except for the 'l'.
On a mythological basis I'm following currently it looks as though there might be something like 'ra' or 'la'.
Thanks for your help.
Sabine