The invention relates to a switching arrangement for an ignition device of a discharge lamp (1), comprised of a spark gap formed by three or more electrodes (11) and connected in series with the primary winding (8) of a superimposed transformer (3) and a surge capacitor (9). The invention proposes a cylindrically shaped configuration for the electrodes (11), with the cylinder axes (12) being arranged side by side and in parallel to each other, i.e. in such a manner that a multiple-stage spark gap in air is formed vertically to the cylinder axes (12). Furthermore, the invention relates to an ignition device for a high-pressure discharge lamp.