A discharge lamp of the short arc type with high arc stability in which the arc is prevented from fluctuating during operation is achieved by providing a short arc discharge lamp in which the hermetically sealed tubes which extend from the arc tube, and the lead pins located within the arc tube which support the electrodes, are sealed relative to one another by graded glass, and wherein cylindrical retaining bodies are attached concentrically within the hermetically sealed tubes and are penetrated by the lead pins, a metal foil that has several cambers which extend in the axial direction of the lamp being located between the cylindrical retaining bodies and the lead pins.