The discharge lamp of the invention includes a main discharge vessel which is
filled with a discharge medium for the main discharge via a pair of opposed main
discharge electrodes, and has a first electrode sealing part and a second electrode
sealing part for connecting the pair of main discharge electrodes. The advantage
of the invention is in a starting electrode arranged such that it does not come
into contact with the main discharge space, and an auxiliary light source which
includes an auxiliary discharge vessel located adjacent on the side of one of the
electrode sealing parts and which is not made integral with the electrode sealing
parts. The auxiliary light source is filled with a discharge medium, and has a
first outer electrode on the outside of the auxiliary discharge vessel.
