The invention relates to an incandescent lamp having a carbide-containing luminous element and current supplies holding the luminous element. A luminous element is introduced into a bulb together with a filling in a vacuum-tight manner, said luminous element having a metal carbide the melting point of which is preferably above that of tungsten, and the luminous element being helical. The luminouselement has a core wire and a wrapped filament and is constituted of various materials and contains a metal carbide.