Djoser probably succeeded his brother to the throne. Through his mother, he was related to the last ruler of the 2nd dynasty (Egypt, ancient) (c. 2775–c. 2650). With the help of Imhotep, the king erected a funerary complex at Ṣaqqārah, outside the royal capital, Memphis (southwest of modern Cairo). Built entirely of stone, the innovative structure was a departure from the traditional use of mud bricks along with stone. The greatest advance, however, was a complete alteration of the shape of the monument from a flat-topped rectangular structure to a six-stepped pyramid. Surrounding the Step Pyramid were a large number of limestone buildings intended to represent shrines used for royal rituals. The style of architecture of these buildings reproduced in minutest detail the wood, reed, and brick forms employed in utilitarian construction in Egypt.