I was under the impression that the references to Odin's past was because of how many fans of norse mythology pointed out that Odin caring about peace and justice was in stark opposition to his mythological counterpart, who is a mix of the trickster archetype and the conqueror.

Mind you it is quite hard to imagine Odin as he is portrayed in the first film as the god of war and death, but those are his domains just as thunder is Thor's. And it is not like the mythology is subtle about Odin, hell the name Odin translates as "the mad one", and these are a couple translations of other names of Odin from the mythology: "the terrible", "lord of treason", "deciever", "war-merry", "worker of evil", "the undead king", "god of burdens", "god of gore", "the concealer", "the grim one", "overthrower", "inciter", "slaughter god" etc.

The guy is basically in card caring villain territory, and even points out himself in the myth that he isn't someone to be trusted.