A discharge lamp comprises an electrode assembly structured to induce tension in certain of the component electrodes and compression in others of the component electrodes. The balancing tensile and compressive forces cause the electrode assembly to be a unitary, self-supporting structure, which can be inserted into a prefabricated envelope and in which the forces are induced independently of interaction with the envelope. The electrodes in tension may be relatively thin wires and the electrodes in compression may be relatively thicker rods. The electrode assembly may include concentric arrangements of electrodes, with a plurality of rod counter-electrodes spaced circumferentially around a thin wire electrode, or a plurality of thin wire electrodes spaced circumferentially around a central rod counter-electrode. In other embodiments, a counter-electrode may have a flat, polished surface facing one or more electrodes overlying the surface. Dummy electrodes may equalize bending loads on the counter-electrode.