PURPOSE: To enhance the connection between an electric discharge lamp and a socket, and facilitate the manufacture of the base of the lamp by fitting a starter reduced in size inside the base, and providing the base with two contact pins.

CONSTITUTION: A tubular body 10 is made by curving a linear-bar-like tube into a U-shaped tube, and curving the U-shaped tube in the direction perpendicular to the U-shaped tube. Both ends of the tubular body 10 are fixed to a cammon base 11. Filaments 12 and 13 are charged within the ends of the body 10. Conductors 12a and 12b and conductors 13a and 13b are led outside the body 10, respectively, from the filaments 12 and 13. One conductor 12a and one conductor 13a are connected to a starter 14, which is installed inside the base 11 and consists of a non-linear dielectric element and a semiconductor switch. The other conductors 12b and 13b are connected, respectively, to two contact pins 15 and 16 protruding from the base 11.